Kimura-sensei

Warrenton Grade School (US) and Nejo Junior High (Japan)

Updates:

1st Voyage

KIMURA-SENSEI was refurbished and rechristened by the students of Mrs. Lent’s limited, in-person enrichment group at Camp Kiwanilong in Warrenton, Oregon.  These Warrenton Grade School students braved the winter storms with CRMM Miniboat Program staff each Thursday afternoon to get this masterpiece shipshape and sea ready.  In 2017, CRMM Miniboat Program Hull #001 was originally named M/B COMCOMLY and sailed in the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean conducting important sea testing for our program. However, after Ms. Lent’s group of boys wanted their own project the transformation began.

Mr. Kimura and CRMM Miniboat student Hudson Sandel in front of Nejo Junior High School.

M/B KIMURA-SENSEI was named in honor of the retiring Mr. Kimura, the former principal of Nejo Junior High School in Hachinohe.  Mr. Kimura was instrumental in the early success of the CRMM Miniboat Program in Japan and has become a close friend to Nate Sandel, the Education Director at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.  Mrs. Lent’s students at Warrenton Grade School hope the two boats they named after these “brothers from a different country” cross paths as they are transiting the Pacific from different sides.

The students at Warrenton Middle School held a christening on October 5, with invited guests Mr. Tully and Captain Suzuki of NYK Lines.

You can watch it here:

CRMM Miniboat Program Director, Nate Sandel, brought the KIMURA-SENSEI along with NATE THE GREAT miniboats to the M/V LIBRA LEADER on October 6, 2021:

On October 22, 2021, KIMURA-SENSEI was set to sea about 610 km off Inubo Saki thanks to Captain Abrenica! Here is the report from Captain Abrenica of the LIBRA LEADER:

Greetings! We are glad to inform you that miniboat “KIMURA-SENSEI” was successfully launched in the water by ship’s crew. Please find below information regarding the launching:
Date: 22 October 2021
Time: 1554 SMT / 0454 UTC
Position: Lat= 34-29.8 N / Long= 153-14.1 E
(610 Nm Off Inubo Saki)
Ship’s Course: 190 deg T
Ship’s Speed: 6.0 Kts
Weather: Overcast Skies with Drizzle / ENE x 18 kts /
Moderate Seas / Moderate Visibility /
Swell Height 2.0 m
Also, please find the attached photos and report during launching
of miniboat for your reference and utilization.
On behalf of all Officers and crew on board, we would like
to extend our deepest gratitude to be part of this mini boat
program.
Thanks & best regards,
Capt. Frannel A. Abrenica
Master of Libra Leader

On February 1, 2022 the KIMURA-SENSEI crossed the International Dateline!

January 2023

Kimura-sensei was less than 600 km from California when it started traveling south, then southwest in what seemed to be back into the great Pacific. On January 26, the GPS sent its last message and we have not heard from it since.

This voyage was 461 days at sea and the boat traveled at least 18,454 km!

Columbia River Maritime Museum’s Miniboat Program celebrates 10 years! Over this first decade, the program has provided a global, multidisciplinary STEAM learning experience for 4th through 7th grade classes. Students work in teams to design, assemble, launch, and track GPS-equipped boats. Each classroom learns about maritime history and culture of the Pacific Northwest and across the Pacific Ocean. In 2027, we will also plan to launch our 50th miniboat!

The program is in partnership with Educational Passages and has been supported by numerous organizations and private donors, including Consular Office of Japan in Portland, Pacific Power, NWSTEM Hub, West Marine BlueFuture Fund®, Northwest Oregon Works, and U.S. Coast Guard.